Cylinder lock



T. PATRIGNANI `May 8, 1951 CYLINDER LOCK FIC-3.5

FIG.

Patented May 8, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CYLINDER LOCK Theofilo Patrignani, Lecco, Italy Application May 7, 1947, Serial No. 746,472 In Italy June 5, 1946 This invention relates to a combination lock which is of increased safety and strength as coinpared with locks of the so-called Yale type embodying spring pins.

The main characteristic feature of this lock consists in the fact that transverse shaped rings are freely mountedon the rotor for oscillation and displacement in any direction, said rings being guided in notches in the roter and having an outer diameter which is substantially equal to the bore of the stationary cylinder or" the block in which the rotor is mounted, the above mentioned outer diameter being but a few tenths or" a millimeter smaller in size with respect to the cylinder bore.

The stationary cylinder is formed internally at each ring with a groo-ve and the rotor is formed centrally with a longitudinal shaped recess cooperating with radial shaped ribs on the key. Balls are mounted in radial seatings in the rotor and roll underneath the rings, said balls cooperating with the profile of the ribs on the key. The key is of such shape With respect to the inner shape of the rings which are acted upon by the balls pushed by the key, that only when the proper key is pushed home in the due direction, the rings are exactly centered by means of the balls on the rotor and the latter may be pushed in an axial direction, releasing it from a stop tooth which kept it from rotating with respect to the stationary portion. The axial displacement takes place against the action of a spring and in the axially displaced position the rotor, being released from the catch, may rotate and operate the lock.

By this device a very large number o'f combinations may obviously be obtained, which result in an increased safety. 'Ihe parts are tough 4 Claims. (Cl. 70-360) in construction and not easily damaged, and no 4 sensitive springs as in the Yale locks are employed.

The accompanying drawing shows diagrammatically by way of example a construction of a lock block according to this invention.

Figure l is an axial section thereof, the key being properly tted in so that the rings are perfectly centered, while the rotor has not yet been axially displaced.

Figure 2 shows a detail of the stationary block portion in axial section;

Figure 3 shows a detail of the rotor in axial section;

Figure 4 is a cross sectional View of the rotor;

Figure 5 is a plan View of the rotor;

Figure 6 is a detailed end view of the device locking the rotor to the stationary portion, the parts being disengaged by the axial displacement of the rotor,

Figures 7, 8, 9 and 10 are detail views of four adjustable rings with which the rotor is provided.

I denotes the stationary block portion, 2 denotes the rotor. The stationary portion I is formed in fro-nt with a circular hole 3 receiving the cylindrical collar 4 of the rotor, havingv a notch for the passage of the key i6. In the example shown the key has four shaped ribs 5; consequently, the notch in the key-hole is crossshaped. The rotor is formed with radial openings 6 receiving balls 6 which may be displaced in a radial direction. A ring 'I is arranged over each transverse set of openings t and cooperating balls 6', the ring outer diameter matching the cylindrical bore of the stationary block portion I. Each ring is provided with a radial catch 8 turned inwardly, which is held between two wires 9 stretched longitudinally between the end anges I 0 of the rotor, by which the rotor is guided within the stationary portion I. The rings 'I may obviously be displaced and adjusted in any direction by effect of the prole of the ribs 5 on the key I5 when the latter is fitted into the key-hole.

The profile of each rib is designed in such manner with respect to the inner shape ofthe rings l that the latter are properly centered on the rotor axis when the key is pushed home 'in the keyhole.

The rings I that were held in the inner grooves I8 in the stationary block portion, are released l' therefrom so that, on pushing the key forward,

the latter may displace the rotor axially releasing its catch II from the notch I2 in the stationary portion in which it was retained under the action of the spring I3. The extension I4 of the rotor then operates the lock in the known manner as, when the key is pressed and the teeth II and I2 are out of engagement, the rotor is free to rotate. On withdrawal of the key, the spring I3 pushes back the rotor to its normal position and the rings fall back into the grooves I8 in the stationary portion I in a relative position which is variable according to the adjustment of the block with respect to a vertical line.

It will be understood that I do not desire to be limited to the exact details of construction as described, lfor obvious modifications will occur to a person skilled in the art.

What I claim is:

1. In a lock, a tubular body having a set of annular grooves formed in the inner surface of said body, an inner member rotatably supported in said body, means for securing the inner member to the tubular body in order to prevent its rotation, said securing means being disengageable only by axial displacement of the inner member, said inner member having an axial notch for the introduction of a key, said inner member having radial openings connected at their inner ends with the key notch, said openings being opposite the grooves of the inner periphery of the tubular body and the number of said openings opposite to each groove being equal to the numberof indented profiles of the key, spacing members arranged inside said openings, rings situated in radial planes, and interposed between the in.

ner member and the grooves of the outer body and having an outer diameter equal to the tubular body inner diameter, means for preventing rotation of said rings relatively to the inner member, the inner surface of eachringbeing of Vsuoli a proile that only When the appropriate `key is introduced into the axial notch of' the inner.

member, the key indentations opposite the openings VVcooperating through the spacing elementsA with the inner surface of the rings, carry said l rings into such a position that lthe axis of vsaid rings coincides with the axis of the inner member, so that an axialdisplacement of the inner member can take place thus disengaging the securing,

means .andpermitting the rotation of said member relatively `to the body.

2. A lock as claimed in claim 1, in which the means for preventing rotation of the rings relatively to said inner member are constituted by wires stretched parallel to the axis of the inner member and secured to end anges of the inner member, the inner peripheries of said rings being formed with grooves and said IWires passing in said grooves of said rings.

3. A lock as claimed in vclaim 1, in which each of the spacing members arranged inside the radial openings is constituted by one ball, said balls serving also to facilitate the introduction and Withdrawal of the key.

4. A lock, as claimed in claim 1, in which the means for preventing rotation of the inner memberare constituted by a catch fixed to the inner member, said catch being seated in a notch in the stationary block, and `a spring maintaining said catch in the engaged position.

THEOFLO PATRGNANI.

REFERENCES 'CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,444,429 Roggingerl Feb. 6, 1923 1,513,718 Morehouse Oct. 28, 1924 2,023,208 Olson Dec. 3, 1935 

